Vibration Characteristics of Fluid-Structure Interaction of Conical Spiral Tube Bundle

Heat transfer enhancement is achieved by flow-induced vibration in elastic tube bundles heat exchangers. For a further understanding of heat transfer enhancement mechanism and tube structure optimization, it is of importance to study the vibration characteristics of fluid-structure interaction of tube bundles. The finite element method is applied in the study of fluid-structure interaction of a new type elastic heat transfer element, i.e., the dimensional conical spiral tube bundle. The vibration equation and element matrix for the tube are set up by the regulation of different helical angles and coordinate transformation, together with the simplification of the joint body of the two pipes. The vibration characteristics of conical spiral tube bundle are analyzed at different velocities of the tube-side flow, and the critical velocity of vibration buckling is obtained. The results show that the natural frequency of the tube bundle decreases as the flow speed increases, especially for the first order frequency, and the critical velocity of vibration buckling is between 1.2665 m/s–1.2669 m/s. The vibration mode of conical spiral tube bundle is mainly z-axial, which is feasible to be induced and controlled.